Award for Leaving Care footballers

WARRINGTON’S “Leaving Care” football team have received an award to mark their success in recent years.
The team RISE FC – Respect, Involvement, Support, Empowerment – have been going from strength to strength.
This year they won the Leaving Care Football competition, defeating Blackburn in the final.
They have taken part in the competition for the last seven years, previously winning in 2005, 2009 and last year.
The team is made up of young people aged 14-21 and both children leaving care and their friends are invited to take part.
Now the team needs help to take its success to the next level, so they can join the local Leisure League.
They are calling on local businesses for support to help them with kit and equipment.
Stuart Titcombe, aged 19, has played with the team for the past two years.
He said: “I’m really proud to have been awarded player of the year and to be team captain for 2012. As a team we’re all working towards winning our fourth tournament in a row next summer. But it would be a great help if we could get support from a local business so we can take the team to the next level.”
Cllr Colin Froggatt, the borough council’s executive member for children and young people’s services, said: “I’m delighted to see that RISE football team is going from strength to strength and I would like to congratulate them on their third successive tournament win.
“I wish them the very best of luck for making it four in a row next year! We’re supporting the team every way we can but would encourage any local businesses who can help back the team by helping with kit or equipment to come forward.”
Award winners were: Stuart Titcombe (Player of the Year); Anthony Nixon (Most Improved Player), Simon Cade (most goals in the season). All team members received an award for attending all year.
The awards were presented by deputy Mayor Cllr Steve Wright.